An annual rite of spring has arrived once again, as local residents will soon be gathering to conduct town business at their annual town meetings. For many communities, the town meeting is not only an opportunity to congregate to cast their ballots on warrant articles, but a chance to visit socially with individuals whom them may not have seen throughout the winter months.
Town meetings are particularly popular in New England as a form of governing smaller towns, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
The following is a listing of upcoming town meetings in the Houlton Pioneer Times coverage area that were able to be determined by presstime.
Danforth — Saturday, June 1, 9 a.m. at the Town Hall. Two seats on the town’s Board of Selectmen are up for grabs. A one-year term, currently held by Greg Mailman, is available, as is a two-year term, currently held by Lorrie Shay. A seat on the SAD 14 school board is also available. Danielle Golding presently holds that seat. Nomination papers became available starting last Friday. Voting will be held Friday, May 31, from 4-8 p.m. at the Town Hall.
Dyer Brook — Monday, March 18, 7 p.m. at the Dyer Brook Town Office, 864 Dyer Brook Road. Two three-year terms on the Board of Selectmen are available. Incumbents Wade Slauenwhite and Richard Lyons are running unopposed.
Hodgdon — Monday, April 1, 7:30 p.m. at Mill Pond Elementary School. Polls are open from 1-7 p.m. at the town office. Two three-year seats are available on the town’s Board of Selectmen, with three candidates. Running for the board are incumbent Sheila Murchie and challengers Charles Rockwell and John Gaddis.
Island Falls — Saturday, March 16, at 1 p.m. in the Municipal Building. The election will be held Friday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Incumbent Allen Schenk is running unopposed for a three-year term on the town’s Board of Selectmen. Also available is a three-year term on the RSU 50 school board, but there are no candidates for the seat. The Red Brick Garage will offer coffee and doughnuts prior to the meeting and a bean supper afterwards.
Linneus — Monday, May 6, 7:30 p.m. at the Linneus municipal building. A three-year seat on the SAD 70 school board, and two three-year terms on the town’s Board of Selectmen are up for grabs. The deadline for nomination papers is Friday, March 22.
Ludlow — Thursday, March 28, 7 p.m. at the town office, located on the Ludlow Road. Polls open from 2-6 p.m. at the town office. Two candidates — David Stevens and Brandy Peabody — are vying for one seat on the board of selectmen. Residents will also vote on three
Merrill — Met Tuesday, March 5.
New Limerick — Monday, March 25, 7 p.m. (tentative) at the town office. Polls will be open from 2-6 p.m. at the town office. One three-year term on the Board of Selectmen is available, with incumbent Mark Stile running unopposed. Two seats on the SAD 70 school board are available — a three-year seat and one-year term. No individuals took out nomination papers for these seats, therefore the positions will be filled by whichever two people get the most write-in votes. Darlene Theriault and Rebecca Cox currently hold the seats.
Oakfield — Monday, March 18 at 7 p.m. at the Oakfield Community Center. The municipal budget of $543,800 represents an increase of $11,555, according to Town Manager Dale Morris. Two three-year seats on the town’s Board of Selectmen are available with four vying for those seats. Seeking election are Matthew Crandall, Barbara Branscombe, Anthony White and Byron Starbird. Two seats are open on the RSU 50 school board, but no candidates are running. Those two seats were held by Jeff Hardy (whose term expired) and Nikki Cullinan (who resigned from the board.) The two seats will be filled via write-ins.
Orient — Orient traditionally holds its town meetings at the end of August.
Patten — Tuesday, March 26, at 7 p.m. at the Patten Fire Department. The polls will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Two seats are open on the town’s Board of Selectmen, but only one candidate, incumbent Lana Tucker, is on the ballot.
Sherman — Monday, March 18, 7:30 p.m. The polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for voters to cast ballots for selectmen and school board representatives. For the Board of Selectmen, incumbent Jeffrey Packard is running unopposed for a three-year seat; incumbent Rose Marie Bragdon is seeking a two-year term; and Harold Gould Jr. is running for a one-year seat. Kimberly Lane is seeking re-election to the RSU 50 school board.
Smyrna — Held its town meeting Monday. Attempts to obtain results from that meeting were unsuccessful by presstime.
